Flexible oar

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a flexible oar in which the spoon that contacts with the water has a hard edge made from a conventional material and a soft, resilient, flexible core which is stretched upon impact with the water, thereby increasing the pressure applied by the crew and improving the performance of the vessel.

Currently, the oars used both in nautical sports and navigation that areavailable on the market, are mainly made up of two key elements; thatis, the handle, which is used to hold the oar in order to exert forceagainst the water, and the paddle, which is the flat surface that, whenin contact with water, produces the necessary impulse to make the boatmove. Normally, oars are made out of some sturdy material with a flatsurface, in order to achieve greater contact with the water.

The FLEXIBLE OAR increases the size of the surface in contact with thewater without altering the area of the paddle in order to obtain agreater performance and enhanced speed from the boat due to itspassenger's effort.

The FLEXIBLE OAR can be manufactured in any one of the materials used tomake regular oars, but it provides an advantage over them because it hasan elastic or flexible surface in the paddle which allows it to inflatewhen pressed against the water in order to move the boat; this way, thearea in contact with the water is greatly increased.

When the FLEXIBLE OAR finds its support and impulse point in the water,the flexible material placed in the paddle stretches so the supportpoint is very much increased, producing a global increase on the boat'sperformance.

The physical principle by which the FLEXIBLE OAR works can be used inother objects that need to be in contact with water to produce energy ormovement, such as helixes, rotors, pedals, wheels, etc.

Its special design allows the rowing effort to be reduced, increases thetravel speed and substantially improves the braking of the boat.

For a greater understanding of the invention, next is a description ofit and of its parts.

FIG. 1 shows the structure of a conventional oar, as seen from thefront.

FIG. 2 shows a FLEXIBLE OAR at rest, i.e, without being pushed in thewater.

FIG. 3 shows a FLEXIBLE OAR in action, when the stretching of theflexible material is caused by the pressure of the water.

FIG. 4 shows:

1. The water's resistance in order to generate impulse.

2. The effort being made by the person propelling the boat with the oar.

3. The elongation of the elastic material

1. The FLEXIBLE OAR is characterized by a conventional oar design madeup of a handle, which is used to hold the oar in order to exert forceagainst the water, and the paddle, which is a flat surface ofconsiderable size that enhances the boat's performance.
 2. The FLEXIBLEOAR, according to claim No. 1, is characterized by having two types ofmaterials in the paddle: a rim, made out of any sturdy material commonto this kind of objects, and a flexible material that covers thepaddle's central part.
 3. The FLEXIBLE OAR, according to claims No. 1and 2, is characterized by the elastic material that forms the center ofthe paddle, which has a determined flexibility that allows it toelongate to a certain point whenever it's in contact with water; givingthe security that it does not weaken, rip or tear due to the forceimprinted on it by the passengers of the boat.
 4. The FLEXIBLE OAR,according to claims No. 1, 2 and 3, is characterized by the fact thatthe elastic material is completely fixed to the rigid material of therim in a way that it will not come off at any time and that it will notallow the passage of water through the joint of both elements.